Experience is a good thing when it comes to your freelance writing career. As the years go by you will find that more experience almost always translates into more success. There are many ways that this happens:
1. Experience makes you a better writer. The other day I was looking over a few feature articles I wrote many years ago. And while they were okay, it is easy to see just how far my writing skills have come. The more you write the better off you will be.
2. Better client communication. Experience definitely helps when it comes to communicating with clients. Many of the students in my course are always asking about what to say to clients, how to react if a client become upset, etc. This is something that you simply have to learn as you move forward. When I started as a freelance writer I was not the best communicator. But soon enough I was learning what to say to clients, as well as how and when to contact them.
3. Experience translates into marketing success. Early on in your career you will probably try many different marketing methods. But soon enough you will learn which methods bring success, and which ones are nothing more than a waste of your time.
 4. Over time you will begin to make friends. I have met a lot of other writers, while also becoming close with many clients. As a freelance writer it is a great joy to make new friends. After all, it can be lonely to work at home.
I strongly believe that the longer you stay in the freelance writing industry the more success you will have. The experiences you go through on a daily basis will turn you into a better writer as well as a more efficient businessman. The four points above are proof of that.
Many freelance writers dream of landing contracts with big name companies. But guess what? When they finally have the chance they shy away. Although it can be intimidating to work with companies and publications that are well known, you need to keep in mind that this is your job. If you can get your foot in the door there is nothing to be afraid of. Remember, you are good at what you do and the company you are working for is good at what they do.
There is no reason to be afraid. This is the way I look at this situation: if a company wants to hire me they are doing so for a reason. And the reason is that I am a good writer who has a lot to offer. Many freelance writers get caught thinking that they don’t deserve to work with the “big boys.†This is not the case. If you did not have something to bring to the table you would never get attention from big name clients.
If you want to take your freelance writing career to the next level you need to be willing to work with any company that wants to hire you. You cannot freeze up and turn down big contracts because you don’t think you are ready.
Take for example a member of my freelance writing course. Last month he was offered a large contract by a real estate company with a well known name. While I am not 100 percent sure of the contract specifics, the gig paid quite a bit of money. Unfortunately, he was afraid to move forward with such a project for two reasons: the company was “too big†and he was not confident in his skills. Although I offered my advice to the student, it was his decision to ultimately pass on the job. In my opinion there comes a time in every writer’s career when he either needs to fish or cut bait. If you are scared to take on big contracts, for whatever reason, you will never find yourself making the progress you deserve.
Don’t be afraid of working for the big boys. Big companies are the same as small ones. They are run by people who are looking to move up, jut like you. You have the skills and confidence to do a good job for any client, no matter how big or small.
Believe it or not, many freelance writers have asked me whether or not they have to pay taxes on their income. Although I cannot speak for those in other countries, if you live in the United States you most definitely need to pay taxes on any income you earn as a freelance writer. As you can imagine, this is not something that you want to forget. If you do the IRS is not going to be kind when they catch on.
My best advice is this: hire a certified public accountant to help you with your tax situation. Before I ever started my career as a freelance writer I hired an accountant to go over every last detail with me. She answered all my questions, while also showing me how to pay quarterly taxes on both the state and federal level. This may sound easy enough, but there is definitely a lot of paperwork involved.
At the beginning of every year, usually in February or March, I visit my CPA to file my final return. This is when I learn if I owe additional money, or if I will be receiving a refund check. This is all based on how much money is paid in quarterly taxes throughout the year. Simply put, this is not something I would be able to do on my own. There are entirely too many forms and too much information gather. Even though I have to pay a few hundred dollars for this service, it is well worth it. You cannot afford to make any mistakes on your final return. For this reason I am more than happy to pay a professional to ensure that my return is 100 percent accurate, and that I take advantage of all possible deductions, etc.
Since I am not a CPA I am going to stop here. If you are just starting your freelance writing career I strongly urge you to make an appointment with a professional. This will help to ensure that you understand your tax situation, and that you are setup to pay the proper amount as the year goes by.Â
